Sick Penrith woman 'dropped' in freezing sea
Janet Richardson spent several minutes in freezing waters
A seriously ill Cumbrian woman was dropped into freezing sea waters from a cruise ship as paramedics tried to transfer her to a waiting vessel.
Grandmother Janet Richardson, 73, was on a cruise along the coast of Norway when she became ill.
After being treated onboard, local paramedics were called. As they tried to transfer her to the lifeboat she fell into the sea.
She is currently being treated at Carlisle's Cumberland Infirmary.
It is believed Mrs Richardson was submerged in sub zero temperatures for several minutes before she was rescued.
Mrs Richardson became ill on board the Ocean Countess after sailing from Hull on 20 March.
After being assessed it was decided she should be taken to hospital on shore.
Boats moved apart
Despite the ship being equipped with a helipad, a sea rescue was launched.
According to eyewitness reports, as the paramedics were moving her from the ship to the lifeboat, the boats moved apart and Mrs Richardson fell into the sea.
Colin Prescott, from Burscough, Lancashire, was with his wife Sheila on board the ship with the Richardsons.
He said: "The vessels, which hadn't been latched together, suddenly moved apart by several feet just as they were transferring her, which caused the rescue crews to drop the stretcher into the sea.
Janet Richardson was being stretchered to a rescue vessel when she fell into the sea
"We had been told the sea was about minus three degrees that day.
"The rescue boat came back round to pick her up and she was taken to hospital, but she was in the water for about eight minutes or so."
A spokesman for Cruise and Maritime Voyages, which operates the service, said Mrs Richardson was suffering from internal bleeding and an emergency call was made by the ship to the Norwegian Rescue Authorities.
He said: "A rescue craft was provided by the authorities and whilst the rescue crews were seeking to transfer the stretcher into the rescue craft Mrs Richardson fell into the water.
"Mrs Richardson was rescued and immediately transferred to the Norwegian port of Bodo, approximately two nautical miles away and was transferred to the local hospital."
Cruise and Maritime Voyages said they did not own the ship, but confirmed a full investigation was taking place.
The Ocean Countess is part of the Majestic International Cruises fleet and is on charter to Cruise and Maritime Voyages in the UK.
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